Online learning technologies are permeating classroom spaces. Whereas face-to-face discussions are broadly accepted as productive for facilitating learning, online discussions are less familiar to instructors and yet provide a more democratic and accessible environment for students in which to co-construct ideas. Although there is a plethora of research on what is occurring in computer-mediated discussions (CMDs) in regards to student behaviors and experiences, there is a dearth of literature devoted to how instructors should implement these findings into their courses. Six recommendations are offered that are based primarily on research with undergraduate and graduate level formal coursework, making these ideas, though possibly relevant to other learning situations, best suited for instructors and students involved in higher education. The goal is to help instructors be more confident and purposeful with how they conduct online discussions, as they aim to make the learning experiences of their students more productive.